Al Gore: Obama Climate Change Speech Best 'by Any President Ever'

Former Vice President Al Gore gushed over President Barack Obama’s climate change speech on Tuesday, saying the “historic” and “terrific” speech was “by far the best address on climate by any president ever.”

He said he hoped climate change would be “a centerpiece of his leadership during his remaining three and a half years in office” and urged Obama to use the bully pulpit even more.

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“I applaud the new measures announced by President Barack Obama this afternoon to help solve the climate crisis — particularly the decision to limit global warming pollution from existing as well as new power plants,” Gore wrote on his blog. “Following the important pledges he made in both his inaugural address and State of the Union speech earlier this year, and the historic gains in renewable energy and fuel efficiency that the President delivered in his first term, the policy changes he announced today represent important steps forward in the battle to halt catastrophic climate disruption.”

As The Hillnoted, Obama “said the White House would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to draft new rules to limit the carbon pollution from both new and existing power plants” and declared the “Keystone XL oil pipeline should only be approved if it didn’t increase greenhouse gas pollution.”

Gore called Obama’s EPA directive the most important part of the White House plan.

Gore said if what Obama stated in his speech is “followed by skillful and thorough execution of the plan,” it can “fundamentally alter the course of our nation’s energy infrastructure development and help to promote a sustainable future.” He said America’s “moral authority” abroad will be boosted as well and urged Obama to continue to make more pronouncements.

“Continued and constant use of the bully pulpit, determined follow-through on the steps announced today, and additional steps in the months ahead can change the political reality and build a bipartisan consensus for the broader changes that are needed urgently,” Gore wrote.